Formula 1

Kimi Antonelli wins inaugural GP at Madrid’s Madring from Verstappen and Norris

Fraser Masefield
1 month ago
6 min read

Kimi Antonelli won an intriguing tactical Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit from Max Verstappen and Lando Norris as misfortune befell his title rivals.


After Norris had maintained his pole position and streaked away into the distance, an unfortunately timed Virtual Safety Car and slow pit stop meant that he dropped down the field.

It meant that Antonelli gladly reaped the rewards, and the in-form championship leader was not the kind of driver to pass up the opportunity to storm to an eighth victory of the season.

Following Lewis Hamilton’s early retirement with a brake failure, the late stopping Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari ahead of George Russell, Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson.

Franco Colapinto, Oscar Piastri and Arvid Lindblad rounded out the top ten points scorers.

“It was a very difficult race. Not straightforward at all, especially trying harder tyres,” said race winner Antonelli.

“It’s good to win, but it doesn’t feel as good because I think Lando today deserved the win. But overall, you know, we’ll take it.

“And other than that, it was a very strong race, I think, especially on the hard at the end with really good pace. Really looking forward to be back next year here.”

For the unfortunate but magnanimous Norris, a podium represented the best he could do after some appalling luck.

“There was nothing I could do,” said Norris regarding the VSC.

“Congrats to Kimi and Max. Just luck wasn’t on our side. I gave it a good fight, you know, to try and catch up with Max, but difficult to pass.

“A tough race, one that just got away from us. I felt like we deserved it today. But that’s racing sometimes, so we’ll take it on the chin and try again next time.”


THE TALE OF THE RACE

When the covers came off the tyres on the grid, there was an interesting mix of strategy – the front row opting for medium followed by Verstappen and Hamilton on softs and Leclerc, Russell and Piastri on the hard compound.

It would make for an intriguing race with as many twists and turns of the new 3.6-mile circuit itself.

And it was Norris who got the better launch off the grid into Turn 1 as both Antonelli and Verstappen running wide.

Another error from the championship leader meant he had to give position back but also at the expense of letting the fast-starting Verstappen past.

But with the Dutchman also running wide, he was also told to concede not one but two positions that put him back out behind Hamilton much to his disgruntlement.

It meant Verstappen was now the filling in a Ferrari sandwich, but he was soon back ahead of Hamilton a brake issue forcing the seven-time champion into retirement.

And an opening corner collision for Piastri in outbraking himself into Russell sent him tumbling down the order with front end plate damage – effectively ending his podium hopes.

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With the track temperature a roasting 54 degrees, tyre degradation would also play a key part, and it was the softer compound runners first to shed their Pirellis.

Then the first drama of the race. A Virtual Safety Car for Lance Stroll’s retirement saw leader Norris only just miss his free stop window whilst Antonelli was able to pit for fresh hard tyres.

Then a slow pit stop for Norris played further into Antonelli’s hands, a sticking tyre putting the reigning champion back out behind old friend Russell.

Spanish Grand Prix, Andrea Kimi Antonelli on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Madring (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

It all meant that with Leclerc yet to pit, the race for the podium places seemed to be between, himself Antonelli, Verstappen, Norris and Russell.

It was just after half distance when Russell pitted for a new set of Pirelli hards to take him to the finish, his rivals staying out a little longer.

And that decision effectively put him out of contention.

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With Leclerc finally coming in on lap 49 for soft tyres, the race to the finish was on.

But there was no catching Antonelli now, the young Italian taking the flag to further extend what seems to be a winning margin of 81 points from closest challenger Russell with Hamilton a further 20 points behind in third.

“I think looking at the race pace, I think it’s for us a great result,” commented third placed Verstappen.

“Of course, we know that Lando got unlucky with that VSC. So, yeah, for us, I think today P2 is an incredible result because you could see how much Lando was catching me.

“And for us, of course, to be P2 is incredible.”

In a Spanish Grand Prix attended by a raft of stars including Rafael Nadal, it was a disaster for Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso who made contact in their home race, albeit in the fight for small scraps.

But the inaugural race also provided mixed opinions on social media about the circuit being too difficult for overtakes. Not all were complimentary.

Next up on the F1 circus is a trip to Azerbaijan for an even tighter street circuit from September 24-26.

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Fraser Masefield

Fraser is a sports and motorsports editor with over 25 years experience. The former head editor of WilliamsF1, BMW Motorsport, Jaguar Racing and Virgin Media, he has also worked for Autosport, ESPNF1 and Eurosport amongst others.

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